Uconn

UConn football: Pasqualoni names Byron Jones to take over cornerback position BY ED DAIGNEAULT REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

STORRS — Byron Jones' position switch was not up for debate. The St. Paul Catholic High product was moving from safety to cornerback for the UConn football team whether he wanted to or not.

Coach Paul Pasqualoni and his coaching staff decided that at some point during the winter break. Jones, a solid starter at safety for the Huskies for much of the last two seasons, received the news when he arrived back on campus six weeks ago.

It's a good thing he had no objections.

"They told me I was moving," Jones said. "There's no asking questions around here. I'm fine with it. Wherever I'm best suited to play, I'm all for it."

The cornerback cupboard wasn't necessarily bare. The Huskies have some on the roster without Jones. But UConn lost seniors Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson and were left with inexperience and a decided lack of size on the outside.

Gratz wasn't tall, but he was well built and strong. Wreh-Wilson was a big corner with skills who has made a serious impression on NFL scouts recently. Pasqualoni wanted some size and experience on the outside.

Enter Jones, who played corner for five games two years ago when Wreh-Wilson was injured.

"So far, there's evidence that Byron has a feel for the position," Pasqualoni said Tuesday, the second of 15 spring practices for the Huskies. "He's made a couple of smart plays. After two days, I would say I'm encouraged. How he's lined up and the leverage he's taken on receivers, he's shown some intelligence and smarts. Right now, he's playing pretty good."

All the defensive backs had good days Tuesday. UConn's three quarterbacks — Chandler Whitmer, Casey Cochran and Scott McCummings — threw at least four interceptions, two of which came courtesy of redshirt freshman safety Jordan Floyd.

It's early, of course, but Jones looked much more the part of a corner Tuesday than he did at any point when he subbed for Wreh-Wilson in 2011.

He was a freshman then, moved from one position to another in the span of a week out of necessity.

This time he's had six weeks to study how to play cornerback and figure out the playbook and the defensive calls. He's also had time to reach out to Wreh-Wilson and pick his brain for tips.

"He was more than happy to answer whatever questions I had for him," said Jones, who has studied film of Gratz and Wreh-Wilson in preparation for the move. "Watching Blidi and Gratz last year, I learned more during that time than I did when I was a freshman playing corner.

"I'm enjoying it big time. It's good being out the edge by yourself. You have to have a little bit more confidence, but I know what it takes to guard receivers. That part's not much of an adjustment."

But there are adjustments. Jones used to call the sets for the defensive backs, now he's listening to them. Mentally and physically, it is a different position than just roaming the defensive backfield and making the right move.

"At corner, you have to be a technician out there because one bad step and you're beat for a touchdown," Jones said. "You have to mentally tough because you're out there by yourself a lot, especially with this defense."

Extra points: Richard Lagow, the Texas high school quarterback who committed to UConn, was at practice. He is due to return home today ... Former Torrington High quarterback Chris DeBerry is on the UConn spring roster as a walk-on ... Offensive tackle Jimmy Bennett has been cleared by the NCAA to receive a sixth year. He is out for now recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. ... Also out where defensive end Jesse Joseph, linebacker Yawin Smallwood and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen, all of whom are recovering from surgery ... Running back Martin Hyppolite, who sustained a hip injury in car accident last month, was at practice on crutches.

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